March 14, 2025
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker recently presented her proposed $6.7 Billion Fiscal Year 2026 (FY 2026) Operating Budget also known as the “One Philly 2.0 Budget” to Philadelphia City Council members.
During her 90-minute budget address inside a packed City Council Chambers, Mayor Parker highlighted the following things:
- Housing Investment & Tax Proposal: Mayor Parker is advancing her plan to build or renovate 30,000 homes for lower-income residents during her first term. She proposes issuing $800 million in bonds, which would require $166 million in debt service payments over five years and increasing the real estate transfer tax to help fund the initiative.
- Upcoming Housing Address: The Mayor will outline her full housing vision during a special City Council session on Monday, March 24, at 10 a.m.
- Tax Reform: Wage Tax & BIRT Overhaul: The Mayor plans small annual cuts to the city wage tax and major changes to the Business Income and Receipts Tax (BIRT). The proposal includes eliminating the gross receipts portion and reducing the net income portion by 50% by 2039. This follows recommendations from the Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission, which recently called for eliminating BIRT entirely within 8–12 years.
- Riverview Wellness Village Expansion: The Mayor is committing $300 million over five years to expand construction and operations at Riverview Wellness Village in Northeast Philadelphia—a key part of her plan to end the open-air drug market in Kensington. The site opened in January, with $100 million in initial funding already approved. An additional $216 million is proposed for ongoing operations.
Other items proposed in the FY 2026 Operating and Capital Budgets includes:
- $67 Million over five years to cover the costs of a new Forensic Lab which will be located at the 3.0 University Place building at 4101 Market Street in West Philadelphia.
- $256 Million in grants to grassroots organizations that help reduce violence citywide, a program started under former Mayor Jim Kenney and championed by Council President Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District).
- $50 million for street repaving projects and $5 million for streets upgrades.
- $100 Million to prepare the city for 2026, when the nation will celebrate its 250th Birthday and Philadelphia will host the Major League Baseball All-Start game and FIFA World Cup soccer matches. The money will also be given to tourism organizations and sprucing up public spaces citywide.
Now that Mayor Parker has presented her budget, Council will soon begin FY 2026 budget hearings in-person at City Council Chambers, and held before the Committee of the Whole, which is made up of seventeen councilmembers and chaired by Council President Johnson.
Budget hearings will begin on March 25 and end on May 14. The final FY 2026 budget must be approved by June 30. FY ‘26 starts on July 1.
To learn more about Mayor Parker’s budget address, Operating and Capital Budgets, proposed FY25-30 Five Year Plan and other information, visit City Council’s FY 2026 budget page. The Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Hearing Schedule is subject to change so check back often for updates.
Council President Johnson also announced that Council will hold several Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Town Hall hearings in various neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia so that all constituents have an opportunity to partake in the budget process or relay budget-related testimony.
Details about dates, times, and locations of the Fiscal Year 2026 Neighborhood Budget hearings will be announced as soon as possible.
COUNCIL APPROVES RESOLUTIONS DURING THIS WEEK’S COUNCIL SESSION
This week, Council approved no bills and several resolutions. The bills scheduled for votes on the final passage calendar were either held by the sponsors, amended on the floor or placed on the suspension calendar.
Under Council rules, no action shall be taken on any bill or resolution that has been placed on the suspension calendar, except for a motion to place the bill or resolution on the final passage calendar for the next session of Council, or a motion to recommit the bill or resolution. Public Comment cannot be given on an item on the suspension calendar.
- Bill #240427-A (introduced by Councilmember Jeffery Young, 5th District) was amended on the floor and will be up for final passage as soon as the March 20th Council session.
- Bill #240665 (introduced by Councilmember Quetcy Lozada, 7th District) was held and Bill #240304-A (introduced by Councilmembers Young, Mark Squilla, 1st District and Jim Harrity, At-Large) was placed on the suspension calendar.
Among the resolutions approved by City Council this week were:
- Resolution #250183 (introduced by Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, At-Large) opposing any attempts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education or slash federal funding for public school programs that support low-income students and students with disabilities.
- Resolution #250215 (introduced by Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson, At-Large) authorizing the Committee on Children and Youth to hold hearings on the implementation of Bill #220654-A and the success of Community Evening Resource Centers
- Resolution #250217 (introduced by Thomas, At-Large) honoring the members of Commonwealth Association of School Administrators as they have made significant contributions to their community, advocating for the rights and interests of staff and students in the School District of Philadelphia.
- Resolution #250219 (introduced by Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr., 4th District) honoring and recognizing 10-year-old Andre “Trey” Howard for his heroic response to the plane crash in Northeast Philadelphia. Howard required emergency brain surgery after a piece of metal debris embedded in his head as he shielded his younger sister during the crash on January 31. Howard continues to make strides as he recovers from surgery.
- Resolution #250220 (introduced by Councilmember Rue Landau, At-Large) commemorates the 60th Anniversary of the civil rights marches across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama to Montgomery on March 7, 1965, also known as “Bloody Sunday.”
For a complete rundown of all resolutions and bills introduced or approved this week, go to City Council’s Legislative Information Center.
CITY COUNCIL HELD ONE COMMITTEE HEARING THIS WEEK
Council’s Streets and Services Committee, chaired by Councilmember Jeffery Young, Jr. (5th District), held a hearing this week on several bills, including Bill #250066, sponsored by Councilmember Jim Harrity (At-Large), which would amend Chapter 11-200 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Openings and Excavations in the Streets,” to impose additional penalties on violators of underground permitting requirements, and Bill #250148 (“Safe Streets for Students Act”), sponsored by Majority Whip Isaiah Thomas (At-Large) which would amending Chapter 12-3400 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Use of An Automated Speed Enforcement System to Improve Safety,” by providing for the use, administration and enforcement of automated speed cameras on routes located within specified school zones.
The Committee held Bill #250148 so that additional discussions can take place concerning the legislation.
Thomas’ legislation is part of the broader effort between City Council and the Parker administration to eliminate traffic fatalities in the City of Philadelphia and follows Councilmember Thomas’ recent hearing investigating our progress toward achieving our Vision Zero goals.
This is a five-year pilot program authorized by Pennsylvania House Bill 1284 and will need to be renewed or made permanent in 2028 if it is to be continued. As required by HB 1284, engineering and traffic studies must be completed and an opportunity for public comment will be made available.
Locations were determined by transportation experts at the City’s Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems (OTIS) using crash data and geographic spread across the city to maximize impact. Thomas’ ordinance proposes seven locations, though state law (HB 1284) limits the use of Automated Speed Enforcement cameras to 5 designated school zones at a given time. The seven proposed school zones are as follows:
- William L. Sayre High School (3rd district)
- High School of the Future (4th district)
- Visitation B.V.M School (5th district)
- KIPP North Philadelphia Charter School (5th district)
- John B. Stetson Middle School (7th district)
- Widener Memorial School (8th district)
- Northeast High School (10th district)
Cameras would be active during school hours when school zone flashers are active.
Bills #250066, #250100 (sponsored by Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr., 4th District) and #250147 (sponsored by Councilmember Anthony Phillips, 9th District) were voted out of committee, had a first reading during the March 13 Council session and are scheduled for a final passage vote at the March 20th Council session. Bill #250099 (Jones) was held in committee.
APPLY FOR A LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM GRANT TODAY
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance program (LIHEAP) provides cash grants to help Pennsylvania families pay their heating bills.
LIHEAP can help you keep your home warm and safe during the coldest seasons. Until April 4, 2025, Philadelphians can apply for a cash grant to help pay their heating bill. You can receive from $200 to $1,000 based on your household size, income, and fuel type.
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance program (LIHEAP) provides cash grants to help Pennsylvania families pay their heating bills.
LIHEAP can help you keep your home warm and safe during the coldest seasons. Until April 4, 2025, Philadelphians can apply for a cash grant to help pay their heating bill. You can receive from $200 to $1,000 based on your household size, income, and fuel type.
MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL HONORED BY THE CENTER CITY BUSINESS ASSOCIATION FOR WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
In honor of Women’s History Month, The Center City Business Association heard personal stories of leadership, challenges and triumphs at their “Women Changing the City” event at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Center City which featured the seven women on Philadelphia City Council: Councilmembers Jamie Gauthier (3rd District), Quetcy Lozada (7th District), Deputy Majority Whip Cindy Bass (8th District), Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson (At-Large), Nina Ahmad, Ph.D. (At Large), Rue Landau (At-Large) and Minority Leader Kendra Brooks (At-Large).
Women make up nearly 42 percent of the 17 members of City Council, one of the largest numbers in modern history, and they make up half of Council’s majority and minority leadership posts.
Gilmore Richardson said the inspiring panel shines a light on women’s impact in shaping our city’s future and celebrates the progress that has been made.
SATURDAYS WITH CITY COUNCIL RADIO SHOW AIRS LIVE THIS SATURDAY, MARCH 15
Tune in and listen to the next Saturdays with City Council show on Saturday, March 15 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Eastern Time for Saturdays with City Council on WURD Radio (900 AM/96.1 FM) or online at wurdradio.com
The final Saturdays with City Council show in March will air on Saturday, March 29, will air from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Eastern Time on WURD Radio.
THE NEXT COUNCIL SESSION WILL BE ON THURSDAY, MARCH 20
The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 20, 2025, at 10 a.m. Eastern Time at Philadelphia City Council Chambers, Room 400 (Fourth Floor), Philadelphia City Hall.
Tune in by watching Xfinity Channel 64 and Fios Channel 40 if you have cable TV in Philadelphia, stream online at www.PHLCouncil.com/watch or listen to WURD Radio (900 AM/96.1 FM) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Source: phlcouncil.com…